Harkins Middle School Boy's Basketball Team Finish 3rd at Provincials

The Harkins Middle School Boy's Basketball team competed at the tier 1 provincials this past weekend in Woodstock.  The boys finished in third place with a record of 2 wins and 2 loses.  In game one Harkins downed Quispamsis Middle 59-55 in overtime.  Harkins were down 3 with 2 seconds left.  A foul sent Shane Watters to the line, he made the first to pull within 2 points and missed the second on purpose with the only hope being getting the rebound and a score to get the game to OT. The missed foul shot hit the floor and Kyron Amos go it and made a fall away chuck at the goal off of one foot from behind the backboard to tie the game up at the buzzer.  From there the game went back and forth but Harkins was able to pull out a 59-55 victory.  In game two Harkins faced Woodstock Middle.  Harkins got off to a very slow start falling behind 9-2 before coming back to tie it 11 to 11 at the end of the first quarter.  Harkins actually took the lead 14-11 before Woodstock went on a run that Harkins could not overcome.  From there Woodstock cruzed to a 62-25 victory.  That put Harkins at 1 and 1 at the end of day 1 and tied with Bliss Carmen from Fredericton.  Harkins and Bliss faced each other with the winner going to the finals and the loser playing for 3rd.  Harkins again got off to a slow start offensively but stayed in the game with their defense.  Bliss led 25-15 at half and Harkins was never able to cut into that lead in the second half.  Bliss won the game 56-30.  This set up a rematch with Quispamsis fro Bronze.  Both teams struggled offensively to start and the game remained close throughout the first half with Harkins holding a slight advantage at half.  Harkins got off to a great start in the third quarter and extended their lead to as many as 15 points.  Harkins help off a late Quispam rally and held on for a 41-30 victory to claim bronze.  This is the first time that a boy's team from Harkins Middle has competed in the tier 1 provincials.  Players of the game were Mictch King, William Falconer, Owen Amos and Benson Doak in the 3rd place game.